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Members of the Boise City Council are (back, L-R) council members TJ Thomson, Ben Quintana, Lauren McLean, Scot Ludwig (front, L-R) Council Pro Tem Elaine Clegg, Mayor David H. Bieter and Council President Maryanne Jordan.

The Mayor works full-time, managing the day-to-day operations of the City and providing leadership and policy direction to the City Council. The Mayor chairs all meetings of the City Council, voting only in the case of a tie. The six members of the City Council work part-time, holding budget and policy-setting authority for the city. The Mayor and City Council members are elected at large by popular vote. City Council members are elected to a specific Council seat, but the seats are not determined geographically. City elections are held in odd number years (e.g. 2007, 2009, 2011).

Boise Fire Department
News Release

River Float Safety

The season for floating the Boise River is here! Boise Firefighters urge you to keep safety top of mind.

What every floater should know!

The Boise River is truly a gem for Idaho's Capital City. We at Boise City want the river to be a beautiful, fun and safe place for all citizens to enjoy.

The Boise River is also a wonderful inner-city habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. We encourage people to enjoy the river while preserving its natural beauty.

From fishing to floating, picnics to parks, more people are using the Boise River than ever before.

The following is a list of tips, rules and laws that will help make your float down the Boise River safe and fun for you, your friends and family.

Put In:

Barber Park is the starting point for most Boise River floaters. Barber Park is an Ada County Park, located six miles from downtown Boise on Eckert Rd. between Warm Springs and Boise Ave.

Raft and inner tube rentals are available at Barber Park through Epley's Boise River Rentals. Free air stations available for floaters to fill their own rafts and tubes.

Rest Stops:

The Boise Parks & Recreation Department has established four rest stops along the main floating route between Barber Park and Ann Morrison Park. Each stop includes trash receptacles with regular pickups. The River Quarry site includes a port-a-pottie; permanent restrooms are located in the stops at Julia Davis and Ann Morrison Parks. The map designates the floater rest stop locations. Directional signs approximately 100 yards before each rest stop will indicate site amenities available.

Rest stop locations:

River Quarry is located on the left hand side of the river just before the Marden Bridge (Baybrook Court Bridge). Site has restroom and trash facilities.

The popular Marden Bridge (Baybrook Court Bridge) site is located on the right side of the river and is currently used by numerous floaters. Site has trash facilities.

Julia Davis Park site is located on the right side of the river. Trash facilities are located behind the site and restrooms are available across the road near the bandshell.

Take-Out:

Ann Morrison Park, which is six miles downstream from Barber Park, is the take-out spot for floaters.

The Boise City Parks and Recreation Department has developed two take-out spots to relieve congestion -- both on the left side of the river-- on both sides of the footbridge.

Restrooms, trash and recycling bins are available for you to use at the take-out.

Parking & Shuttles:

Floaters can park inside Barber Park (parking information) or at Ann Morrison Park. A shuttle runs regularly between the two parks visitEpley's for more information. There is a cost to take the shuttle.

All floaters and those using Boise area parks are asked to be a good neighbor and not park on nearby residential streets.

For safety, some streets around Barber Park are posted as No Parking Zones. Violators risk a citation.

Life Vests:

Idaho law requires all vessels, including rafts, kayaks and canoes be equipped with a life vest for each person on board. Children 14 years of age and younger onboard vessels 19' or less are required under Idaho law to wear an approved life vest when the vessel is underway.

Floaters older than 14 who are not strong swimmers are urged to wear life vests at all times.

Alcohol:

Open containers of alcohol are not allowed on the Boise River or in Boise City parks within 250 feet of the river as posted.

Beer and wine are allowed in Boise parks outside the 250 foot riverbank zone, unless otherwise designated. Permits are required for individual possession of beer/wine of more than 7 1/2 gallons (pony keg = 7 3/4 gallons, 3 cases = 6 3/4 gallons). A Beer/Wine Permit can be downloaded and submitted in accordance to rules and regulations as outlined on the application.

Glass Containers:

Glass containers of any kind are not allowed on the Boise River or in Boise Parks. Please carry your beverages in plastic or aluminum containers.

Litter and Recycling:

No one wants to see litter in the river. Littering is illegal. Boise Parks & Recreation Department has provided trash and recycling bins at the rest stops and at the take-out in Ann Morrison Park for your use.

Smoking:

Smoking is prohibited in all public parks, facilities and within 20 feet of the Boise Greenbelt. Smoking is permitted in designated areas within Ann Morrison and Julia Davis parks.

Boogie/River Boarding:

Boogie or river boarding is prohibited in the Boise River within the City of Boise, which for the typical float, begins immediately after you float past Barber Park.

Bridge Jumping:

Safety must be the priority while on the river. While jumping from bridges, trees or rocks into the river is not illegal, those who do so should be aware that doing so can be dangerous, and that they are jumping at their own risk.

It is illegal, however to jump from or throw or drop any object, including a person, from any bridge, tree or other landscape features into the Boise River within fifty (50) feet of any boater, floater, rafter or tuber.

Greenbelt Congestion:

Congestion on the Greenbelt at various bridges, primarily Marden Bridge, results in complaints from greenbelt users and is also a safety concern. When using the greenbelt, remember Boise City Code prohibits obstructing the path way, bike lane, sidewalk, or roadway of any bridge in the city or causing the flow or movement of pedestrians, bikes, or vehicles to be obstructed. This also applies to the immediate area surrounding the access to the bridge. "Obstruct" means to stand more than two persons deep along the railing or side of any bridge or along the side of any bridge access way or occupy all or such portion of the path, lane, sidewalk, or road, as to block or delay more than momentarily safe passage of another person or vehicle using the path, lane, sidewalk, or road lawfully and carefully. Basically, be courteous and be sure that wherever you are on the Greenbelt, others can also safely use the pathway.

Camping:

Camping is not allowed on the Boise River or in Boise City parks.

River Hazards:

The environment along the river is ever changing and new hazards can appear at any time. The Boise Fire Department and the Boise Parks & Recreation Department continually monitor the Boise River recreation area throughout the season for snags or significant hazards. The City works with our river partners to mitigate those hazards for the community. It should be emphasized that the combined resources of the City of Boise and Ada County cannot clear the river of ALL hazards ALL the time. Users of the river use the river at their own risk.

If you see a snag or hazard in the river, please report it immediately to Ada County dispatch: 208-377-6790.

Use Greenbelt "DOTS" to provide your location in an emergency:

If you need emergency assistance along the river or greenbelt, DOTS, or the Directional and Orientation Trail System can help. DOTS are a series of 20-inch white spots painted onto the Greenbelt pavement every tenth of a mile. Inside the white spots are black numbers and letters that describe your location. The numbers represent how far that spot is from the base, or "zero" spot, which is located at the 8th Street pedestrian bridge on both sides of the river. The letters inside the spot indicate what sector of the Greenbelt it is on, such as the northwest quadrant, or the southeast quadrant. If you need help and can get to a DOT, emergency dispatchers can send help your way even faster.

Best Times to Float:

Mornings or early afternoons are quietest along the river. Late afternoons and evenings are very busy.

Other Safety Tips:

All floaters are encouraged to wear tennis shoes for safety and comfort.

Floaters are urged to watch for overhanging branches or swift currents that may cause rafts to overturn.

Floaters should call 911 if they see a life-threatening or emergency situation.

Floaters should not operate a raft, tube or other watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol.